The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

But sith we see the devil goes about to trouble us, that we should not spend our lives in the serving of God: let us redeem the time in that respect. And after what manner? In that he speaketh of redeeming, (ransoming, or buying again) he presupposeth that we must forgo & lose the thing that we were desirous too have kept. For when we be too redeem a thing that was gone out of our hands, or (too buy) a thing that we need, or too (compound for) a thing that another man withholdeth from us: in those cases we forgo some piece of our profit. If another man have laid hold of a thing that were for my commodity: I must give him a piece of money too get it out of his hand again. Even so is it said, that we must redeem the time. And after what manner? Not always with gold and silver: but by forsaking our own lusts. It is true that some time gold and silver must be spent about it. For if worldly riches turn us away, or pluck us back from following whithersoever God calleth us, we must redeem the time, that is too say, all that ever we perceive too be noisome and offensive after that sort, must be thrust under foot. Howbeit there are many other means besides. For some are so snarled in their ambitiousness, as this world hath altogether ravished them, and they take no taste of the everlasting life, for any thing that can be preached unto them. Othersome be given too deceiving, and others too extortion. According then as every man sees the Devil able too win of him, and too make him to lose his time, by consuming it in wicked things: so let him redeem it, that is too say, let him reform himself, and forsake both himself and all the temptations wherewith he might be entangled. Ye see then, that the thing which we have too mark upon this strain, is, that considering the corruptness which is now adays throughout the world, and the great number of outrageous vices, and how all things are quite out of order, and (too be short) that even the perfectest men ⟨image 283⟩are somewhat infected with the vices, and disorders that are everywhere: in stead of seeking vain excuse, by alleging that we be weak, and unable to overcome the great number of impediments that are offered us, we must redeem the time.

But sith wee see the deuill goes about to trubble vs, that we should not spend our lyues in the seruing of God: let vs redeeme the tyme in that respect. And after what manner? In that he speaketh of redeeming, (raunsoming, or buying agein) he presuppozeth that we must forgo & looze the thing that we were desyrous too haue kept. For when wee bee too redeeme a thing that was gone out of our handes, or (too buy) a thing that wee neede, or too (compound for) a thing that another man withholdeth from vs: in those caces wee forgo some peece of our profit. If another man haue layd hold of a thing that were for my commoditie: I must giue him a peece of mony too get it out of his hand agein. Euen so is it sayd, that wee must redeeme the tyme. And after what manner? Not alwayes with gold and siluer: but by forsaking our owne lustes. It is true that some tyme gold and siluer must bee spent about it. For if worldly riches turne vs away, or plucke vs backe from following whithersoeuer God calleth vs, wee must redeeme the tyme, that is too say, all that euer wee perceyue too bee noysome and offensyue after that sort, must be thrust vnder foote. Howbeeit there are many other meanes besydes. For some are so snarled in their ambiciousnesse, as this world hath altogither rauished them, and they take no tast of the euerlasting lyfe, for any thing that can be preached vntoo them. Othersome bee giuen too deceyuing, and others too extorsion. According then as euery man sees the Diuell able too win of him, and too make him to looze his tyme, by consuming it in wicked things: so let him redeeme it, that is too say, let him reforme himselfe, and forsake both himselfe and all the temptations wherwith he myght bee intangled. Yee see then, that the thing which wee haue too marke vppon this streyue, is, that considering the corruptnesse which is now adayes throughout the world, and the great number of outrageous vyces, and how all things are quite out of order, and (too bee short) that euen the perfectest men